Who are Swift Ecology?

Swift Ecology was established in 2007

Based in the midlands but able to work across the UK, we
have nationally recognised ecological expertise, and we are
highly experienced in habitat survey and management. We offer
a unique level of specialist advice among our wide range of
services and we hold relevant licences to work with key
protected species including bats, dormouse, great crested
newt and barn owl.

Swift Ethos

We are a small and flexible ecological consultancy with a
strong focus on both professionalism and pragmatism. We work
to high professional standards, incorporating a strong
ethical approach in conjunction with industry good practice,
but recognise the need for pragmatism in finding creative
solutions to clients' needs that don't compromise our high
standards. Our senior staff work closely with the Chartered
Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) to
improve standards across the sector.

Addressing the environmental impact of car travel

We are informally offsetting carbon emissions from our
business mileage via tree planting.

In the financial year 2017 - 2018, based on an estimated 41 kg of CO2 per 100 miles, and on an offset calculation of £ 18 per tonne of CO2, the CO2 cost was £ 247. This amount has been rounded up to £250 and has been divided between the two following charities, which between them will plant 66 trees.

Trees for life: A charity aiming to restore the ancient
Caledonian forest in the Scottish Highlands

Heart of England Forest: A local
charity establishing a native broadleaved woodland in
Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

Our Directors:

Lisa Kerslake BSc MSc CEcol FCIEEM
(Managing Director)

Lisa handles the day-to-day running of Swift Ecology
and has a wide range of ecological skills, with extensive
experience of habitat and protected species surveys and
monitoring and mitigation work. Her main interest is
mammals and she holds survey licences for bats, dormice,
great crested newt and barn owl, and EPS mitigation
licences for bats and great crested newts. She is a
Registered Consultant for the Bat Low Impact Class
Licence (BLICL).

Prior to establishing Swift Ecology, Lisa held senior
positions at established ecological consultancies in the
English midlands and has worked in the conservation and
environmental sector for over 25 years, including for the
Nature Conservancy Council, Nottinghamshire County
Council and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, and she was
the first Director of the North and East Yorkshire
Ecological Data Centre.

Lisa is very active in CIEEM, being a founder member,
Fellow, and currently Vice President (England). She has
previously served on both the Professional Standards and
External Affairs Committees and now sits on the Governing
Board, Advisory Forum and Registration Authority; she is
also a Chartered Ecologist Assessor. Outside work Lisa
enjoys planning and taking interesting holidays and short
breaks with her husband, and always has her eye on the
next trip, which will usually involve food and wine. To
counter this she tries to keep fit despite hating any
exercise that is more challenging than a gentle walk.

Mike Sharp BSc MCIEEM
(Director)

Mike has worked in the ecological sector for over a
decade and has a wealth of direct experience working
within the planning system, having delivered planning
support to a local authority from 2008 to 2014. Mike has
extensive experience of delivering ecological services in
a wide range of developments including barn conversions,
residential developments, pipeline installations and wind
farms. He has a particular interest in bat ecology and is
experienced in conducting inspection surveys of buildings
and trees (and is qualified in tree climbing and aerial
rescue). Mike is the named ecologist on over 20
successful EPS mitigation licences for bats in England
and Wales and is a Registered Consultant with Natural
England's Bat Low Impact Class Licence. He is licensed to
survey for bats, dormice, great crested newts and barn
owls in England and Wales.

Mike juggles working full-time for Swift Ecology with
bringing up four small children with his partner Clare.
Outside of work Mike enjoys family walks in the Cotswolds
and spending time at the allotment living the 'good
life'.

Nick Underhill-Day BSc PhD MCIEEM
(Director)

With 13 years' experience in cutting-edge scientific
research, Nick has skills in project management,
collaboration on multidisciplinary projects, scientific
analysis and evaluation. These attributes, in conjunction
with his technical writing abilities, have culminated in
publication in respected peer-reviewed journals and
presentations at international academic symposia. He is
now focused on ecological sciences and has experience of
conservation research and various habitat and species
surveys, particularly bats, badgers, riparian mammals,
amphibians and breeding birds. Nick holds NE licences for
bats and great crested newts.

Nick has a life-long interest in Natural History and,
when not with his family, spends his spare time enjoying
the outdoors, walking and climbing. He undertakes surveys
for the BTO, Butterfly Conservation, Amphibian and
Reptile Conservation and various local groups, including
the Herefordshire Mammal Group, with which he is actively
involved.

Ecological Consultants:

Johnny Birks BSc PhD MCIEEM
(Principal Ecologist)(part-time)

Johnny has worked in wildlife research and nature
conservation for 30 years, and has particular expertise
in the conservation ecology of European mammals. He holds
survey licences for several protected species, including
bats, pine marten, dormouse, barn owl and great-crested
newt and holds current EPS mitigation licences for bats.
He is also experienced in the assessment and management
of semi-natural habitats, and in conducting breeding bird
surveys. He is a Registered Consultant for the Bat Low
Impact Class Licence (BLICL).

Prior to the establishment of Swift Ecology, Johnny
worked in universities, statutory nature conservation
agencies and the voluntary conservation sector. He is
well known for his previous role at the Vincent Wildlife
Trust, where he acquired a wealth of knowledge
encompassing protected species survey and mitigation, and
gained an international reputation in the field of mammal
research.

Johnny now works part-time for Swift Ecology; he
spends the rest of his time helping with his twin
grand-daughters, rowing with Upton Rowing Club, and
maintaining his long-term interest in mustelids. He has recently written books on polecats and pine martens, both published by Whittet Books.

Anna Dudley BSc MSc MCIEEM
(Principal Ecologist)

Anna has worked in ecological consultancy for over a
decade, and has extensive experience of undertaking
habitat and protected species surveys, as well as
designing and implementing mitigation and monitoring
schemes. Her main interest lies in undertaking habitat
and botanical surveys. She is licensed to survey for bats
in England and great crested newts in England and Wales,
and also has many years' experience of surveying for
otters and reptiles.

Before joining Swift Ecology, Anna worked for a
well-established ecological consultancy where she worked
on a wide variety of projects, including large
residential developments and major infrastructure
projects.

In her spare time, Anna enjoys baking, reading and
going for muddy walks.

Catherine Coton BSc ACIEEM(Senior Ecologist)

Catherine has worked in the ecology sector for five years since graduating from Exeter University with a degree in zoology, starting out as a trainee working for Warwickshire County Council where she gained key experience in ecology within the planning system, habitat and protected species surveys and biological records management. Before joining Swift Ecology she worked for a small ecological consultancy where her regular responsibilities included carrying out habitat and protected species surveys and impact assessments for both small and large developments. She holds NE licences for bats and great crested newts and is a keen botanist.

Outside of work Catherine volunteers with local recording groups for mammals, plants and amphibians and reptiles in Warwickshire and she often cares for injured bats, hedgehogs and other wildlife. She also enjoys horse riding and singing in a choir and she leads a conservation project in her local churchyard, enthusing volunteers to get involved with managing an area of wildflower meadow.

Charlotte Long BSc MPhil GradCIEEM(Assistant Ecologist)(part-time)

Charlie joined Swift Ecology having worked in conservation and ecology for the previous four years, after studying for a degree in Ecology at Durham University.

After conducting research into plant DNA barcoding at the National Botanic Garden of Wales as an undergraduate placement student, she continued working in conservation genetics researching the rare Spreading Bellflower for her MPhil. She then joined the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust as a trainee, gaining experience in habitat and protected species surveys, and subsequently spent two survey seasons as a field botanist in Wales for the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Charlie has volunteered with numerous local conservation organisations and is a member of several recording groups, including the Herefordshire Mammal Group and Bonkers on Botany (BOB), a group of reasonably sane people who enjoy botanising in Herefordshire. She works part-time for Swift Ecology and spends the rest of her week working on the restoration of her dilapidated cottage with her partner Alex.

Associates

We work closely with many other experienced ecologists
who bring to Swift Ecology a wide range of skills thus
enabling us to provide the full range of ecological
surveys, including crayfish, other invertebrates, and
specialist botanical surveys.